Happ (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings, becoming the
second former Phillies pitcher to beat them in this series. Myers did it Monday.
Figueroa, who was 2-1 with Philadelphia this season, starts on Friday at the New
York Mets. Wandy Rodriguez(notes) takes the mound when the Astros try to complete the
four-game sweep Thursday afternoon.

Series at a Glance

“I’m a little relieved now that’s over,” said Happ, who was traded to
Houston last month for ace Roy Oswalt(notes) after winning 12 games for Philadelphia as
a rookie last year. “There was definitely some nerves out there.”

The Phillies, who are 2 1/2 games behind NL East-leading Atlanta, have lost
three straight to the going-nowhere Astros. They’ve missed an opportunity to
gain ground on the Braves, who’ve lost three in a row to Colorado.

“You hate to focus on what other teams are doing, but we’d like to be
playing better,” said Halladay, whose six-game winning streak ended. “Given
what they’ve done, we could’ve made up some ground.”

Halladay (16-9) gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings. He threw
just 73 pitches.

Francisco appeared to get his foot tangled up with third baseman Chris
Johnson’s(notes) foot and was called out by third base umpire Greg Gibson. Third base
coach Sam Perlozzo and Manuel argued, but neither was ejected.

On Monday night, Manuel got tossed by Gibson for arguing Bourn should’ve
been called out of the baseline running to first on a bunt single. Bourn went on
to score the deciding run.

In the 14th inning of Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss in 16 innings, Howard was
ejected after third base umpire Scott Barry called him out on a checked swing.
The Phillies wound up putting Oswalt in left field and Raul Ibanez(notes) at first
base.

Barry was booed loudly during pregame introductions, and Gibson got an
earful after his call in the seventh.

Quintero hit a two-out single in the seventh to give the Astros a 3-2 lead.
Chris Johnson doubled and scored on Quintero’s liner to left.

But Happ escaped further trouble with runners on second and third by
retiring Chase Utley(notes) on a popup and Werth on a grounder. Werth’s batting average
of .157 with runners in scoring position is the worst in the majors.

Bourn put the Astros up 2-1 in the sixth when he hit one out to right for
just his second homer this season.

Halladay, who threw the 20th perfect game in history on May 29 at Florida,
retired the first 11 batters before Pence connected in the fourth for a 1-0
lead. It was the first run Halladay allowed in 18 innings.

Happ hadn’t allowed a hit until Werth lined one just over the left-field
wall in the fifth.

Notes: Oswalt said he never played left field in his life before entering in
the 15th inning on Tuesday and catching a fly ball. He played shortstop and
pitched in youth ball. … The Astros claimed infielder Matt Downs(notes) off waivers
from San Francisco and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock. … Pence has 10
homers in 22 career games against Philadelphia. … A crowd of 44,657 was the
106th straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park. … Quintero leads the majors with
six pickoffs.